Peters pushes for police replacement in Kohukohu

Winston Peters

Northland MP and NZ First Leader Winston Peters wants to know why police didn't appoint a temporary replacement in Kohukohu following the transfer of Constable Jonathan Maoate, who served the North Hokianga for the past eight years.

"The people of North Hokianga deserve to feel safe in their community and cannot rely on Rawene, Kaitaia and Kaikohe police to attend to emergency call-outs in a reasonable time frame," Mr Peters said in a message he sent to Police Minister Michael Woodhouse.

The minister was asked to confirm when a constable would be recruited, including an anticipated start date; the opening hours of Kohukohu police station; and the number of constables to serve the people of Kohukohu.

In reply, Mr Woodhouse said police had told him that, once Constable Maoate's transfer had been confirmed, the Kohukohu position was advertised nationally.

"There has been interest in the position and police hope to fill the vacancy within the next two months," he said.

In the meantime, the position will continue to be filled by a constable from Kaitaia."

Police had advised the opening hours of the Kohukohu police station remained the same as in the past, 8am-4pm, but the staff member was on call outside those hours.

The area was also covered from Kaitaia.

"I am informed the Kohukohu Police Station is a sole-charge station serving a small and widely spread community," Mr Woodhouse said.

"The Kohukohu station is supported by Kaitaia, Rawene and Kaikohe stations as required."

The minister's reply failed to satisfy Mr Peters.

"It was disappointing for the people of the Hokianga that there was no immediate replacement when Constable Maoate left Kohukohu and they were forced to rely on police travelling from Rawene, Kaitaia or Kaikohe," he said.

A new permanent constable would take up the position soon, Mr Woodhouse said.

In June Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis revealed that frontline police numbers in Northland had dropped by 19 per cent in the past six years.

The national police budget has been frozen for six years.